TRANSCRIPT
- Huge turnout at nationwide pro-Palestinian protests.
- Labor to announce an expansion of its first home buyer deposit scheme.
- And in AFL, Fremantle defeats the Bulldogs and books a spot in the AFL finals.
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Thousands of people across Australia took to the streets nationwide in support of Palestinians, calling for an end to the conflict in Gaza.
It came days after the United Nations confirmed famine in parts of the Gaza Strip for the first time, as Israel prepares for a military takeover of the entire city.
Palestine Action Group organisers Amal Naser welcomes Australia's move of sanctions on individual right-wing ministers in Israel's government - but says it incites violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
"Of course those sanctions are welcome. But what these sanctions also represent is that the Australian government has really tried to individualise these systemic crimes that occurring in Palestine, attributing them to a few individuals on the far right, this is a systemic issue."
Dr Max Kaiser, an Executive Officer of the Jewish Council Australia, says the marches have had very broad support in the community.
"There have been Jewish groups and individuals who have been part of this protest movement since the very start. And these are inclusive, multicultural demonstrations. Many families there and people from all walks of life."
Israel maintains it’s not committing genocide.
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The New South Wales government has revealed plans to boost the state's housing supply by reviving an abandoned train station in eastern Sydney.
Woollahra Station has remained partially built since the 1970s, due to local community opposition.
The revival of the station also includes rezoning land nearby, which is expected to allow up to 10,000 new homes to be built around the train station.
State premier Chris Minns says the new homes can help keep young people from moving out of the state.
"We can't just be thinking about the local community as it is today, we also have to be thinking about the people who live in these apartments and units in the years ahead who currently don't have a place to live. If you look at the recent statistics, we lost 40,000 young people in a single year in a report that was released a couple of weeks ago. If that cycle repeats, year after year after year, then we will be a city without young people, and a city without young people is along without future."
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The Albanese government is offering a five per cent deposit for all first home buyers from the 1st of October this year, with no limits on the number of people who can access the scheme and no income limits.
Under the new scheme, property price caps will now be set higher in line with average house prices, to increase access to a broader range of properties.
A statement from the Minister for Housing, Homelessness & Cities Clare O’Neil says “It’s just not right that an entire generation of young Australians have been locked out of the housing market – saving for decades while paying off someone else’s mortgage."
The scheme is just one part of the Albanese Labor Government’s ambitious $43 billion housing agenda.
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Israeli air strikes have hit Yemen's capital Sanaa, bombing a military compound that contains the presidential palace, two power plants and a fuel storage site.
The Houthi authorities say two people were killed and 35 were injured in the attacks.
The strikes are retaliation for Houthi missiles fired towards Israel on Friday, targeting Ben Gurion airport.
The Houthis have launched missiles and drones toward Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea for over 22 months in support of Palestinians, saying they won't stop attacking until Israel ends their assault on Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country will never let attacks on them go unpunished.
"The Houthi terror regime is learning the hard way that it is paying, and will continue to pay a very heavy price for its aggression against the State of Israel. Whoever attacks us, we attack them. Whoever plans to attack us, we attack them. I believe the entire region is learning about the strength and determination of the State of Israel."
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Fremantle has secured a place in the AFL finals with a 15-point upset over the Western Bulldogs.
A dominant seven-goal second quarter set up the Dockers’ 17.10 (112) to 14.13 (97) win at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
Justin Longmuir’s side (16-7) will now host an elimination final, having avoided the risk of dropping to ninth with a loss.
The Bulldogs’ finals hopes hinge on Wednesday’s match between Gold Coast and Essendon.
If the Suns avoid defeat, they will knock the Bulldogs out of the top eight.
Caleb Serong, Jordan Clark, Shai Bolton and Neil Erasmus were standouts in Fremantle’s decisive victory.
